Collapsible boat trailer



All@ 26, 1952 T. R. FlNLAYsoN ET AL 2,608,418

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT TRAILER Filed Oct. 50, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 TINKENTQRJ62M/ d. ym

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 am, BY EW E orney T R FINLAYSON ET AL COLLAPSIBLE BOATTRAILER Aug. 26, 1952 Flled Oct 30 1950 llg- 26, 1952 T R FlNLAYsoN ETAL 2,608,418

coLLAPsIBLE BOAT TRAILER Flled Oct 30 1950 S'Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToRs.flier-ey Patented Aug. 26, 1952 COLLAPSIBLE BOAT TRAILER Thomas R.Finlayson and Bert E. Lee, Milwaukee,

Wis., assignors to Magnesium Products of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application October 30, 1950, Serial No.192,872

(Cl. 28o- 42) 3 claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible vehicles and moreparticularly resides in a vehicular trailer frame composed ofinterconnecting segments adapted to collapsibly fold from an extendedposition to a position of small overall dimension.

vAn important object of this invention is to pro- .vide a collapsibletrailer having a tongue so interlinked with the other segmentscomprising the fram-e of the trailer that the same may be `employed alsoas an operating lever capable of providing suiiicient leverage to permitan operator to quickly and easily collapse a trailer of substan- -tialsize such as may be adapted for the transport of boats and other smallcraft.

A further object of the invention is to provide `a trailer which may befolded into a compact form in which the wheels remain operative as -wellas in the extended position of the trailer.

These and other objects will appear in the description to follow.

In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings inwhich there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation oneform of this invention.

In the drawings:

lFig. 1 is a plan view of a trailer embodying this invention,

.Fig. 2 is a side view in eleva-tion of the trailer depicted in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a rear end view in elevation of the trailer depicted in Fig.1,

Fig. 4 isa side view in perspective of the trailer depicted in Fig. 1shown ina partially collapsed position,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in perspective of the trailer depicted inFig. 1 showing a wheel mounting assembly in -a partially collapsedposition, and

Fig. 6 is a side view in elevation of the trailer depicted in Fig. 1shown in fully collapsed position.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a boatI outlined in broken lines supported on a trailer designated generallyby the numeral 2. The trailer 2 comprises a longitudinal hinged shaftfoldable at predetermined hinge points, as will be describedhereinafter, and a transverse foldable axle assembly. The axle assemblyis formed in the main of two parallelogram link lsystems placedsymmetrically on either side of the longitudinal center line of thetrailer the same being made up of transverse rear links 3, transverseforward links 4, wheel spindle members 5 which form the longitudinalouter sides of each parallelogram and a common ycenter longitudinalmember 8. The inner ends of the links 4 `are pivotally joined to thecenter member 8 by vertical pins I'4 while the outer ends of the links 4join pivotally with the spindle .members 5 through vertical pins 1. Insimilar fashion the inner ends of links 3 join pivotally with the centermember 8 through vertical pins II3 while the outer ends of ysaid linksjoin with the spindlemembers 5 through vertical pins I5.

For` the purpose of holding the parallelogram link system in rectangularor extended position, two oblique. brace members 6 are provided whichare pivotally connected respectively at their outer ends to the outerextremity of therespective links 4 by vertical pins 1 from whence they.,converge forwardly and pivotally connect respectively at their innerends to a T-shaped bracket 9 by vertical pins I0. The bracket 9 ispivotally joined to a tongue Il that forms a part of the longitudinalshaft of the trailer by a horizontal pin I 2 which is disposed forwardlyof the rear end of the tongue II a predetermined distance to provide ashort overhang at the rear of the tongue Ii. The rear` end of the tongueII is pivotally joined by a horizontal pin 36 with the forward end of alongitudinal link 31 joined at its rear end with the forward end oflongitudinal member 8 by a horizontal pin 38. With the tongue I'I andthe link 31 in alignment the links Il, the links 6 and the tongue I Iand link 31 provide two triangular arrangements which act rigidly tomaintain the axle assembly in extended position.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 wheel spindle members `5 are formed withdownwardly extending l-egs carrying at the lower extremities thereofspindles I6 on which wheels I`1 are mounted for rotation.

As more clearly appears in Fig. 3, -tiltable bolsters I8 are rockablysecured to bolts 20 carried by legs I9 which project upwardly from andare secured to the rear links 3. The upper surface of each of bolstersI8 is provided with cylindrical rubber cushions 2| to provide adistributed support that will conform with the shape of the load to becarried.

Near the `forward end of the longitudinal hinged tongue I I andextending upwardly therefrom is a cushioned cradle support 22 shaped soas to support the bow of the boat I. To hold boat yI in contact withsupport 22 a hook 23 and an adjustable strap 24 of leather or suitablefabric are provided as is shown in Fig, 2l The stern of boat I is heldin contact with the pads 21| by lmeans. of :adjustable straps`26fastened to bars 21 29 to which is attached a triangular handle 3l!yadapted for hand towing. Handle BIB may be swung through an arcof atleast lrdegrees and locked at any desired angle by meansV of a springload-ed pin 3l. For automotive power towing a ring eye 39 is rigidlysecured to the forward end of Y tongue II. Y

The tongue I I forming the main portion of the longitudinal extent ofthe trailer is of two segments hinged together by Vpin 33. When inlengthwise extended position the segments ofthe tongue II are rigidlyheld in such position by means of a spring loaded pin 32 :carried bytheafter segment that engages an indentation in the forward segment.

Vlor the purpose of releasably maintaining alignment `between fthe:tongue II andthe member 37 a'pin 3dr-is affixed to kmember 3l so Aas t0projectV slightly `therefrom Vin position to bereceived-within a hole inaliat spring dsecured atmitsfor-ward end to tongue II. When the'spring35 --is b ent away from thetongue .I'rthe pint!! fis disengaged and'hinging between Vthe tongue II and link 3.7,Y about the pin 35, ispermitted.

` When boatv I'is removed from the Ytrailer and it is desired tocollapse the trailer springloaded 'pin'.3v2 is released and the forward`section-.of tongue I I is allowed to swing downwardly. Flat spring-35 isthen released Vfrom the fixed pin 3Q Y by deltiressing 'the spring `354and 'the zportion of tongue ll which-is forward ofthe boit I2 isnftedupwardly. Y Y

T'Ihe after'segment -of tongue II thus acts as a 'lever'withitsfulcrumat bolt I2 and through a toggle' action between the overhangingpart of tongueII and thelink member 3l, causesthe central member AIiof'the axle assembly to be drawn forwardly'toward the bracket 9. As aresult the axle assembly and Ybrace members 6 fold backwa'r-'dly andinwardly to a compact position.V The parallelogram or `pantographyconstruction of the apparatus maintains the wheels I 'I in parallelrelationship to'o'ne another at all times as 'shown inlFig'. Ll.

Proceeding from ythe jackknifed position shown in'Fig. 4 furtherclockwise vrotation of' tongue I I about the pin I2 causes opposinglinks 3 and opposing links .t to Vfurther fold'toward each other untilthe membersl, and are 'in a position parallel .to tongue II. TheVtrailer may .then .be held ina fully collapsed position, as shown inFig. 6, vby swinging 'the vhandle 30 into a positionbelow member 31. i Y

YIn collapsing or opening the trailer described considerable `mechanicaladvantage is available to the. operator permitting a person to manuallyco1- lapse or open a trailer of substantial size without assistance.'Such an advantag-eis had by reason ofthe lever'. action of theYrear'segment of the p tongue'l I.

' In the embodiment of the invention shown, inV

of tongue .II between pins I2 and 36. Where the fullest possibleVcollapsing iis-not requiredV thisV relationship .need notbel adheredto;

I claim:

1. In a collapsible vehicle the combination comprising a longitudinaltongue having a forward hitch end and a rear end; a transverse pivotmounting secured to said tongue near the rear end thereof to provide ashort overhanging por- ,tionat .the rear'end of said tongue; `atransverse axle assembly disposed rearwardly of the'rear end of saidVtongue and comprising a longitudinal center member, forward and rearright and left hand vertical pivot mountings Von said center member,forward and rear horizontally swinging right and left hand lateral linkspivotally engaging respectively said forward and rear right and leftvhand-pivotmountings on said center member, right and left wheel spindleside members each having spaced `forward and rearV vertical pivot handwheel spindle members'each of said di-Y `vergent'braces being providedwithV horizontally swingable'pivot means at ,the forward. ends thereof,said horizontally swingable pivotfmeans'being secured in 'pivotalVVrelation to said `tongue said transverse pivot mountingonlsaid tongue;a toggleV link pivotally connected at its fori, .end to the rear end fofsaid tongue pivotalii connected at itsrear end to said axle center mentnber; and releasable 4latchingl means engaging said tongue and togglelink'adapted to be engaged to maintain the same in rigid endwisealignment with ,one another and with said parallelogram Vlink: `systemsin substantially transverse relation to saidtongue and adapted -to beVreleasedwhereby said tongue may be swungfupwardlyand rear wardly todraw said toggle linkv and said axle center member forwardly to swingsaid 'parallelogram link systems inwardly to sidewardly collapse theVsame.

2. A collapsible trailer in accordance withV 'claim 1 wherein the lengthof the toggle `link exceeds the length of the overhanging portion of thetongue measured between pivotal points by an amount equal Yto the excessin lengthof the divergent brace members over the length of the laterallink members. l v

3. In a collapsible vehicle the"combi1fiation comprising a longitudinaltongue having a forwward hitch end and a rear end, a transverse pivotmounting' secured to. said tongue near the Vrear end thereof `to providea 'short' overhangingporm tion at the rear end-of said tongue, a pair ofwheels rotatably mounted in parallel spaced relationship, a supportingframe for said wheels comprising a pairof pivotally mounted-symmetriecal link systems transversely "disposed and horizontally swingable withrespect to a common center'membendiverging brace members each pivotallyconnected at its rear endto oneof said pair of link-systems and beingprovided with horizontally swingable pivot means at the: forwardend'thereof, Vsaid horizontally swingable pivot means 'being secured tosaid :transverse pivot mounting,k a longitudinally Vdisposed toggle linkpivotally connected at its forwardend` tothe rear REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia Mar. 281, 193() Number

